Super Saturday at the MAC

This Saturday, January 17 from 11 am to 3 pm it's Super Saturday at the MAC. See local paleoartist Peter Thomas work on his latest creature, a life size bust of a Columbian Mammoth based specifically on a tusk fossil from the MAC's collection! Peter will have previous work on display too, and he'll demonstrate his 'recycled materials' technique, and help visitors as they work on the trunk and tusks from the bust itself!

Legendary Judy Collins comes to the Bing Feb 11

Judy Collins accompanied only by her pianist will take the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater, Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30. Tickets are $42 and $37, with a handful of VIP packages available for $67 that include front row seating and a Meet & Greet with Judy after the show.

Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. The Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now' from her landmark 1967 album, 'Wildflowers,' has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Judy's dreamy and sweetly intimate version of 'Send in the Clowns,' a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical 'A Little Night Music,' won 'Song of the Year' at the 1975 Grammy Awards. She's garnered several top-ten hits gold- and platinum-selling albums. Recently, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Arlo Gutherie, Joan Baez, and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album 'Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.'

Ticketswest has your seats.

Symphony With A Splash this Friday

This Friday, January 16, starting at 5pm, enjoy live music from d.j. personality DJ Case in the beautiful lobby of the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox. Happy hour food and drink specials are available. Then at 7pm, there will be a one-hour concert with Morihiko Nakahara conducting and featuring Kendall Feeney on piano. The performance includes cutting edge music from Mason Bates ('The Rise of Exotic Computing'), Michael Daugherty's tribute to Liberace, and an Asian-infused arrangement of Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Julian Yu.

Tickets are $25 for all seating and are available at the Box office, by phone at 509-624-2100 or at all Ticketswest outlets.

The Last five Years now at Modern Theatre CdA

Now through Sunday, January 25, 'The Last Five Years' is playing at Modern Theatre Coeur d'Alene, 1320 E. Garden.

Directed by George Green with Music Direction by Zack Baker 'The Last Five Years' shows the points of view of a relationship between a writer and an actress played out in this contemporary song-cycle musical. Their five-year marriage is simultaneously chronicled in opposing orders from both perspectives. The diverse score features various genres including Pop, Jazz, Latin, Rock, Folk, and Classical.

Contains adult themes and language. May not be suitable for all audience members.

Backcountry Film Festival comes to the Bing Crosby Theater

The Backcountry Film Festival is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year with nine unique films aimed to inspire winter adventurers to seek the snow less traveled. Produced by the Boise-based nonprofit, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Backcountry Film Festival is coming to Spokane on Thursday, January 29, at the Bing Crosby Theater.

The Backcountry Film Festival highlights the beauty, diversity and fun of the winter backcountry experience. Submissions come from world renowned filmmakers who travel every corner of the globe to submit their best backcountry work, and from grassroots filmmakers who take a video camera out on their weekend excursions and submit their best film short. The top films are then juried and assembled into a night of fun for all - whether you like to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or even just stay indoors and drink hot cocoa by the fire, there is something for everyone. These films are as diverse as the backcountry experience and will put a smile on the face of even the most winter-averse viewer.

Proceeds from the Spokane showing support the Inland Northwest Backcountry Alliance's efforts to preserve and promote opportunities for quiet human-powered winter recreation in the Inland Northwest.

This year's program includes:
- Winner, Best of Festival, 'Out on a Limb' from T-bar Films tells the story of Vasu, whose love for skiing and the backcountry overcomes all obstacles.
- Best of the Backcountry Award winner, 'Powder Pilgrimage' from Joey Howell, chronicles the ventures of two friends ski-bumming it to Valdez, Alaska, a trip we should all take once.
- Best Grassroots Film winner, 'Backcountry Baker' by Jeremy Lurgio follows Labrador retriever Baker and his owner as they pursue their love of mountains through backcountry skiing.
- 'From the Road' by Fischer Creative portrays the balance between liberation and limitation as a group of athletes come together to help a skiing comrade gain reconciliation with the Alaska peak where a 2009 accident ended his professional guiding career.
- 'Afterglow' from Sweetgrass Productions is a revolutionary and visually spectacular film that brings a whole new light to skiing in the dark.
- '95 to Infinity' by Doglotion Media follows brothers Andy and Mike Traslin as they keep the torch lit for 95 months of winter turns.
- 'IRS Traverse' by filmmaker Luc Mehl is fun and quirky adventure through the Alaska Wilderness.
- 'Sundog' from SturgeFilms capture the dog days of skiing in Patagonia.
- 'Higher' continues the journey of athlete Jeremy Jones as he reaches new heights. From Teton Gravity Research.

Doors open at 6pm and films start at 7pm. Admission is $12. Advance tickets are available at all TicketsWest outlets and at Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division St.

Jesus Christ Superstar Rehearsal Performance and Fundraiser for Our Place January 29 at GU

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Gonzaga University presents 'Jesus Christ Superstar' with a fresh edge of today using hip-hop style dance. The production is directed and choreographed by Suzanne Ostersmith with Kathleen Jeffs. 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice will have special performances at the Gonzaga University's Magnuson Theatre on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 30-February 1.

On Thursday, January 29, there will be a rehearsal performance of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' that is a special event with reception and auction to benefit Our Place Community Ministries. The reception and auction begin at 6pm and performance is 7:30.

Tickets for the rehearsal performance and auction on Thursday are $25 which includes reception with appetizers, wine and silent auction and performance and can be purchased at ourplacespokane.org, by clicking on the 'donate now' button. Tickets are also available by calling or stopping by Our Place at 509-326-7267, 1509 W College Ave.

Regular performances are Friday, Jan 30, with 6pm gala and performance follows; Saturday, Jan 31 at 7:30pm, and Sunday, Feb 1 at 2pm, Friday, Feb 6 at 7:30, Saturday, Feb 7 at 7:30 and Sunday, Feb 8 at 2pm. Tickets for the regular performances are available at the box office, or online at www.gonzaga.edu.

Spokane String Quartet: Old Vienna, New Vienna at the Fox this Sunday

This Sunday, January 18 at 3 pm, the Spokane String Quartet celebrates the cello with an afternoon of music from Vienna and welcomes John Marshall and Jeffrey Lastrapes from CELLObration. Musical selections include works by Mozart, Webern and Schubert.

Tickets are for General Admission seating and are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $12 for students and groups and are available at the Box Office at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, or at 509-624-1200, and at all TicketsWest outlets.

Jason Aldean performs at the Arena April 24

Country musical artist Jason Aldean with Tyler Farr, Cole Swindell and Dee Jay Silver will have a special performance at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday, April 24 at 7:30pm.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 16 at 10am. Reserved Seat Tickets are $30.25 and $60.25 and are available at the Spokane Arena Box Office, all TicketsWest Outlets, www.ticketswest.com or 800-325-SEAT.

Entertainment Spokane! is an Ed Clark production.

For over 35 years Ed Clark has served the needs of Spokane area hospitality, restaurants and entertainment businesses in reaching greater audiences. Since 2002, Ed has delivered the Spokane “How’s Business?” e-mail newsletter that reaches nearly 6000 readers weekly.